Zuma confirms rape allegations
2005-11-21 14:41
Johannesburg - The ANC would keep a "close watch" on developments in rape claims against Jacob Zuma, secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe said on Monday.
The matter would, however, be left to the judicial process.
Motlanthe said that the rape allegation had not been on the agenda
of the party's national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the weekend, because "we don't know if it has a basis".
However, Zuma had asked if he may address the NEC on it.
Zuma informed the NEC that allegations of rape had been made against him, but he had issued a denial through his lawyer Michael Hulley.
"We will keep a close watch on it," Motlanthe said. at a media briefing on the NEC meeting.
According to weekend media reports that Zuma received his formal indictment on corruption charges, a family friend of Zuma's has laid a complaint of rape against him.
Police will not comment on the matter.
Earlier, ANC spokesperson Smuts Ngonyama read a formal statement on the matter.
It said in part: "On the matter pertaining to the... investigation of the alleged criminal misconduct of the deputy president, the NEC is of the firm view that the judicial process is the appropriate mechanism to come to a determination on this matter."
"Allegations remain allegations," said Motlanthe.
No conspiracy
Reacting to further reports that the KwaZulu-Natal finance MEC Zweli Mkhize was brokering a settlement between Zuma and her mother, Motlanthe said that Mkhize was expected to issue a statement saying that he had only arranged her transport to Johannesburg.
He had done this in the context of being a good friend of the family, with whom, he had been in exile in Zimbabwe.
The NEC found there was no conspiracy within its own ranks against Zuma, and that there were no divisions in the party.
It understood how Zuma had reached the conclusion regarding what he thought was a political conspiracy.
And, as a leader of the ANC, Zuma may have been subjected to "hostile forces opposed to the national democratic revolution".
However, it felt that the NEC did not do enough to "pronounce themselves more firmly" on issues surrounding Zuma's successful complaint to the public protector.
Public support increased
This was that the national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) and the national prosecuting authority had violated his human rights.
"To the extent that failure to do so has inadvertently strengthened the perception of a 'political conspiracy", the NEC expresses its sincere regret."
During an investigation into the affairs of Zuma's financial adviser Schabir Shaik, a bidder in the controversial arms deal, previous NDPP boss Bulelani Ngcuka said there had been "prima facie" evidence against Zuma but he would not press charges.
Shaik is now appealing a corruption and fraud sentence, out of whose trial Zuma's corruption charges emerged.
Public support for Zuma increased when a man outside Durban Magistrate's Court was photographed burning a T-shirt bearing the visage of the party's and country's president, Thabo Mbeki.
"We have accepted that sometimes there will be members aggrieved at how they were treated, but that does not mean that there was a conspiracy against them," Motlanthe said.
The NEC felt it was unnecessary for the ANC to pursue Mbeki's proposal of a commission to establish whether there was a conspiracy.
- SAPA